[Anonymous]

I cannot believe what the Florida Dept of Accountancy just told me.

I was short 15 credits to get licensed as a CPA in FL. FL has this stupid regulation that you have to have extra 15 credits from an US accredited university (such as North Central Association) if your master’s degree is from a foreign university.

So I chose online classes through APUS because they are accredited by the North Central Association.

Now they are telling me that they do not recognize any courses taken through the graduate program at APUS.

This is soooo ridiculous!!!

The only requirement was that the university has to be accredited by this association, which it is.

They were just telling me that these type of online graduate programs are no “real” classes …. They also told me that other CPA candidates have the same issues and that there was a hearing in April in front of the Board of Accountancy.

Has anyone else been in this situation?

I am sooooo desperate right now, I will have to find another graduate program….all the time and money seems to be wasted.

[teeteenounouche]

I am in FL also. I just looked online and it seems that the online school is under the name American Public University which is a sister school of APUS (the one that is accredited). I think that's why the board is not accepting the classes. You should talk to the school because their website it very misleading.

“American Public University System (APUS) consists of two online universities: American Public University (APU) and American Military University (AMU).”

ACCREDITATION

American Public University System is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association, http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604, 800-621-7440

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[Anonymous]

“American Public University System (APUS) consists of two online universities: American Public University (APU) and American Military University (AMU).”

So you really think, if APUS is accredited then APU and AMU would not be? I think APUS itself is not a university.

Maybe you are right… although my grade reports say “official grade report from American Public University System”.

I talked to the school accreditation department already. They do not understand the FL Dept. of Acc. decision either. They are currently involved in this whole process and in contact with the FL Dept. as well. But it seems that there is one officer there who thinks online programs in general are not “real” courses.

I was just thinking maybe someone in the same situation would read that and had any advise.

But I think this is just a unique situation here.

This is FLORIDA….

[Anonymous]

Lovely. I had planned to get my last 4 class credits online because UNF sceduling is awful for full time employees. Florida is so ridiculously strict.

[ymmit]

I am just about done with my Masters at APU. APU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a member of the North Central Association (NCA). The CPA education requirements specifically state that the North Central Association is an acceptable level of accreditation. Did they actually deny your application? Or did they just tell that to you on the phone?

Licensed CPA!

[Gatorbates]

Anxious to see what happens. I *think* you should be ok, but it may take some time. #6 under Florida's FAQs under the BOA,

6. Is my school’s accreditation accepted?

The Board accepts degrees from schools accredited by the following associations: Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, NORTH CENTRAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Association of Independent Schools and Colleges who are regulated by the Commission of Independent Education, and Canadian, Mexican, Irish, and Australian academic accounting programs approved by the provincial educational bodies or the equivalent educational accreditation body for that country.

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[Anonymous]

Yes, this is what I am talking about. APUS is accredited and therefore APU is accredited too. Just was on the phone with the accreditation officer of APUS and she confirmed that.

Gatorbates: you are right, this is the only requirement, that the courses have to be taken by an accredited university, which APU/S is! So in my opinion I did nothing wrong. There is no other requirement listed – nowhere.

I think the FL Board is questioning the whole online program content, not the accreditation itself.

They think this programs are just jokes… which they are definitely not!

I am not currently in the appeal status because I was told on the phone that APUS wont be recognized.

But they told me that there is another application who is in the appeal status and that there is a hearing on April 2nd.

I would love to find this other person… maybe just to meet and cry and pray together 🙂

[Gatorbates]

For what it's worth, I'll shine a tiny little bit of light on the situation: Texas requires at least 15 hours to be IN PERSON (not online) for licensure. I know a few people in TX that are getting licensed in other states just for this reason. Good luck, and keep up posted 🙂

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[teeteenounouche]

Cessna, is there any way for you to get a letter from the accreditation association that APUS is accredited and therefore APU is accredited? That could possibly help…

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[Anonymous]

I have already 200 accounting/tax/economic credits (in person) but they are from a foreign university ….

Special rule in Florida (and no where else) in my case: you need to have 15 more credit from an US accredited university.

don't get me wrong. I am ok with this regulation.

But I do not understand that they can say that online programs are not recognized (even if they are accredited) when the only requirement was that the university has to be accredited.

[Anonymous]

The FL Dept does not question the accreditation.

It is questioning online graduate programs in general.

[teeteenounouche]

Oh, then I doubt they have a case…you should fight it.

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[Gatorbates]

Doesn't make sense to me. University of Florida has an online MBA course. There's no way the state would NOT accept that one.

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[Anonymous]

That's exactly what I told them!

This is just discrimination and soooooooo unfair!!!!! We are living in the 21st century and online classes are the future form of education.

I really thought that the tough part was over when I passed the exams, but this is a whole other story now

[ymmit]

Did they deny your application?

Licensed CPA!

[Anonymous]

They did not deny my application so far, they just told me on the phone that they will do.

But they denied another applicant who took the graduate (business) program. As far as I know this other applicant appealed and there will be a hearing in April in front of the Board. But the FL Dept. told me already on the phone that there was no way they would recognize “these” type of courses….

I mean how can she say that to me?

[Author]

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